The death toll from the Ebola outbreak has reached 8,921 and as many as 22,334 have been infected

MOSCOW, February 3. /TASS/. Russia’s Emergencies Ministry has sent more than 37 tons of humanitarian aid to Guinea, one of West Africa’s three countries hardest hit by the deadly Ebola virus disease.

"The Emergencies Ministry’s IL-76 aircraft has departed to Guinea from Ramenskoye airfield in the Moscow region carrying more than 37 tons of foodstuffs, in particular canned meat, fish and milk, and also sugar," the ministry’s press service said.

The humanitarian aid is being sent to Guinea’s citizens in line with a Russian government decree.

The aircraft will also deliver around 2 tons of medical appliances, consumables and chemicals needed to ensure the work of a special anti-epidemic brigade of Russia's public health watchdog, Rospotrebnadzor, in Guinea.

As part of Russia’s participation in the effort to fight against Ebola, a Russian mobile laboratory and a Rospotrebnadzor team were sent to Guinea in August 2014. They are currently working in Kindia, the country’s third largest city, and are expected to continue the effort until this August.

Russian virologists have been providing both practical and consultative services to local authorities. In November, Russia deployed a 200-bed mobile hospital to Guinea. In mid-January, an infection hospital sponsored by a Russian aluminum giant was opened in Kindia.

The death toll from the Ebola outbreak has reached 8,921 and as many as 22,334 have been infected, the World Health Organization (WHO) said in a statement on Monday.

These cases were reported from Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. In line with statistics, the maximum number of Ebola-related deaths and cases has been registered in Liberia - 3,710 cumulative deaths and 8,668 cumulative cases. Liberia is followed by Sierra Leone (3,274 deaths and 10,707 cases) and Guinea (1,937 deaths and 2,959 cases).